Mediation: A new approach for resolving conflict.

Family conflicts are an unpleasant fact of life. ​

However, resolving family conflicts is possible in a manner that focuses on the unique circumstances of your family through interest-based mediation. What is interest-based mediation? It is a process through which a trained mediator assists the parties in identifying individual needs and goals, and then helps create solutions that work.

Let’s talk about one of the most potentially contentious family events - divorce. If you find yourself at the place you never expected to be, ending your marriage, you have choices about how the process can proceed. We have all heard divorce horror stories of protracted, expensive court battles. Marie wants you to know that it doesn’t have to be that way. She can help you create mutually agreeable solutions outside of the courtroom through mediation.

Marie’s commitment to helping to create healthy futures for families can help in many other types of potential situations, too – not just divorce. Couples wanting a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement can use mediation to create these agreements in a non-adversarial way. Grandparents and others who are caring for children may use mediation through Marie to make plans about custody and visitation. Family members concerned with matters facing their elder relatives such as housing choices, caregiving responsibilities, health care decisions, or any of the several other issues that families can face regarding their loved ones can choose mediation to ensure safe, reliable care for their relatives.

​Mediation allows for a new path to be hewn. Parties are often able to both create mutually agreeable solutions and develop improved communication skills and strategies which help them work together in the future.

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As a lawyer with over 25 years of experience working with clients regarding family issues, Marie has a holistic understanding of how harmful court action can be to families. Judges can make decisions only based on the choices available under applicable laws; taking away control from people who are in the best position to craft the best solutions. Court decisions often are unsatisfactory to everyone. Hence, they are less likely to endure. Mediation has benefits beyond just avoiding the courtroom. Mediation is:

Opt-in: participants are only there because they have chosen to be. As such, you can leave at any time. This makes agreements more representative of the needs of the people involved – nothing good results from a person being forced, intimidated, or threatened.

Private: by and large, nothing said in mediation is ever admissible in court, meaning that what you say can’t be used against you as a weapon later. Also, as none of the proceedings take place in open court, there are no public records made of your sessions, meaning you and your family’s issues are kept confidential.

Comprehensive: Financial planners, child custody experts, therapists or other specialists can be involved in the mediation as needed.

What types of conflict can be resolved through Mediation?

Agreements involving children:

Child custody & parenting plans

Child support

Plans for caring for children by other family members

Post-divorce modifications

Spousal support

Child support

Parenting plans

Matters Regarding Elders

Powers of Attorney

Guardianships

Residence decisions

Prenuptial and/or Postnuptial Agreements

Separation Agreements & Contracts

And more!

If you feel that you resonate with this approach and would like more information, please contact us!